Safer Child Products

I recently read an article referring to recalls and warnings about the Bumbo baby seat.  Many parents have been using the Bumbo on chairs and other elevated surfaces.  Then babies were falling and sustaining skull fractures.  Not good.  So, I was thinking about it.  I know that Bumbo was intended for use on the floor to support a baby in an upright position once they can hold up their head. I have read the box.  That being said, my husband and I realize that we do not always read directions included in packaging because a product’s use and function seems obvious.  I’m sure that is what was happening with the Bumbo as well.  People think they know how to use it, maybe it was a gift or even a hand me down, with no box!  It certainly looks like it could be a booster that would sit on a chair, and wouldn’t it be nice to have baby in an upright position for a change?

Allen and I are very safety conscious. We always buckled the seat belts in the high chair and stroller, and always buckled tightly the booster seat w/ tray to the chair.  However, I know many parents do not feel the need to take that extra step. They certainly mean no harm by it, but they probably do not think it’s necessary.  Either they “know” that their child isn’t going to go anywhere, or they want their toddler to be able to climb out when they are ready.  It makes me nervous to see a child climbing out of the stroller while it is moving, and I’ve seen kids get tangled trying to climb out of a booster seat at the table.  The height of a high chair frightens me, because surely there would be injuries if a child fell from that height, were they not buckled in.  I am not passing judgment. I am just reflecting on common practice. 

My final thought is this.  Babies are very wiggly.  They do have control yet of their bodies. You never know when the baby is going to decide to kick or squirm or throw their weight and if the bouncy seat or infant carrier (or Bumbo) is up on the table, then they are likely to fall off.  Please keep all baby seats on the floor and supervise them at all times.

If parents are having trouble using something simple like a Bumbo, then it’s no wonder statistics show 3 out of 4 car seats are installed incorrectly!  It’s not stupidity; it’s that these products are not made with common sense in mind.

Safer Child Products

I was speaking with a friend of mine who has a toddler and she was commenting on how her little one gets into EVERYTHING!! At that age children need to be very closely supervised.  Not only do they move fast, but they are very curious.  If they can’t see or can’t reach, they will reach up and feel the surface to see what’s there.  They will pull on anything hanging down, i.e.: a cord or a tablecloth.  What worries me most this time of year is the potential for burns via candles or hot pots.  As the weather gets colder and the holiday season approaches, we are more likely to be cooking soups, stews and ciders.  Be sure to keep pot handles turned in, so they are not hanging over the edge of the stove.  Cook on back burners whenever possible.  If you have a flat top cooking surface, consider getting a plastic guard for the front of your stove, like the one shown in One Step Ahead http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=29&cmSource=Search

In addition, many of us like to burn candles, whether it is for pure pleasure, or for religious observances.  Keep burning candles out of reach of curious   hands, keep away from curtains and tablecloths, and remember not to wear loose of dangly clothing while cooking or lighting candles as well.  Candle sticks can be placed on a glass or metal tray, or even on aluminum foil, so that if a lit candle falls over, it will not burn the surface or light anything else on fire. 

For more at home safety tips to prevent burns, go to http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/little-kids/at-home/burn-prevention.html

Safer Child Products

Child Abuse is something that is probably not talked about as often as it should be.  It comes to the forefront when there is a scandal, such as what’s happening with the Coaches at Penn State.  I am not a sports fan, I do not follow College Football but I can’t help but follow the allegations that a trusted, well respected man sexually assaulted young boys.  And that this has been going on, and covered up for more than 10 years is beyond upsetting and sickening to me.

I looked up some statistics and information on child abuse, to increase my understanding of the prevalence and why children do not tell when someone is or has abused them. According to Prevent Child Abuse Delaware, “Once every minute a child is abused.” I was shocked to learn that 80% of victims were abused by parents and that as many as 4 children die each day from child abuse. Children often don’t tell anyone about the abuse for many reasons.  One reason is that when children are very young, (50% of child abuse occurs before a child is 6 years old) they do not understand that what is happening is abuse and often children think it is their fault.  With the high incidence of the abusers being parents or loved ones, children don’t want to get their loved one in trouble, or to break the family apart.

It is important for us to talk to our children about what adults they can talk to if they are hurt or upset.  Review with them what their 4 private parts are (mouth, chest, and area covered by underpants) and that no one should touch those places unless they are helping to keep the child clean and healthy (i.e.: bathing or medical exam).  Encourage your child to tell you if someone talks to or touches him/her in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable or that they don't like.

For more tips and suggestions on how to help prevent child abuse and warning signs of abuse, go to http://www.pcadelaware.org/safety/index.htm .  Another great resource is http://helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm

Let’s work together to keep all our children safe.

Safer Child Products

My niece and nephew came to visit this weekend.  They are 4 and 2.  They are so cute and so much fun to play with. We all had a great time.  However, when you have a 2 y/o visiting, you have to be conscious of small pieces in toys and games and my niece loves to go up and down the stairs.  Most of the day she was engaged and well supervised, but at one point I went upstairs and found her walking down!  I got very nervous!  I had not closed the bathroom doors upstairs. In fact, I noticed that the lid on the toilet was open!  What if she had fallen into the toilet or fallen down the stairs?  What if she got caught on the closet door? 

Fortunately, none of these things happened, but Unintentional Injuries are the leading cause of injury and death among children in the United States.  According to the article Unintentional Injuries in Pediatrics, “1 in 4 children sustains an unintentional injury that requires medical care each year.”  To summarize the chart, the leading cause of Unintentional Injury Death Among Children Age 0-10 Year, 2000- 2005, Suffocation was #1 for infants younger than 1 yr. and Drowning was on top for children 1-4 years old.  For children older than 5 years, Motor Vehicle Crashes were the leading cause of injury, death and disability.  I could not believe when I read that “In 2005, 20 children younger than 19 years of age were killed each day from motor vehicle crashes and more than 200, 000 were injured in that year.”

I hate the thought of children being hurt ever, but if there is something we can do to prevent these injuries, than let’s all make an extra effort to do so. Below is the list of Injury Prevention Tips, from Table 2 and most we’ve heard before. It doesn’t hurt to see it again in fact, we could all use reminders and re-evaluations of our situations.  In spite of all we can do, there is no substitute for close supervision. 

Motor Vehicle Crash

·         Back seat (middle) placement of child
·         Rear-Facing car seat until age 2yrs,  
·         Forward-Facing car seat until at least 40 lbs
·         Booster Seat until at least 80 lbs. and 57 inches
·         Always check manufacturer’s specifications on car seat
·         Proper use of seat belts

Drowning

·         Enclose Pools w/ at least 4-ft fence and self-closing gate
·         Wear Life Jackets on boats and when playing near water
·         Do Not leave children unattended in baths
·         Supervise closely (adult within 1 arms reach of a child in or near water)
·         Teach swimming and water safety

Fire and Burns

·         Install smoke detectors on every level of the home and near sleeping areas
·         Test smoke detectors monthly, replace batteries yearly
·         Establish a family fire escape plan
·         Keep lighters, matches out of reach
·         No smoking in bed!
·         Reduce water heater temperature to 120 degrees
·         Do not drink hot fluids near children
·         Never leave the stove unattended
·         Keep appliance cords, pot handles, grills and fireplaces out of reach
·         Cover outlets with protective devices

Poisoning

·         Keep all potential poisons in original containers and out of reach
·         Keep all medication out of reach
·         Place child-resistant caps on medication
·         Dispose of medications immediately and safely
·         Install Carbon Monoxide detectors on every level of home
·         Keep poison control number near the phone 1-800-222-1222

Threats to Breathing

·         Back to sleep
·         Remove comforters, pillows, bumpers and stuffed animals from crib
·         Avoid nuts, carrots, popcorn and hotdog pieces
·         Keep coins, batteries, small toys,  magnets and toy parts awat from children < 4years old
·         Cut blind cords and tie them out of reach
·         Ensure cribs and mattresses meet safety precautions

Falls

·         No baby walkers with wheels
·         Supervise children closely
·         Use safety straps in high chairs, shopping carts, and for diaper changes
·         Keep car seats and “bouncy chairs” on the floor

 Recreation

·         Ensure helmets are fitted and worn properly
·         Keep children <10 years old off the road
·         Remove drawstrings, scarves, and ropes from clothing when children are on playground
·         Supervise children closely
·         Ensure playground equipment has deep soft surface underneath

Above information taken from Pediatrics in Review Vol. 32 No.10 October 2011, pages 431-433